NUG leaders meet Uzbekistan Foreign Affairs Minister

KABUL: President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani met yesterday with Uzbek Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov at the presidential palace.In the meeting, both sides discussed big economic, regional and transit projects, the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace talks and counter terrorism and assessed developments of economic projects in particular electricity extension as positive.Discussing completion of railway studies and purchasing electricity appliances from Uzbekistan, both sides decided that for economic growth in both countries as well as in the region, the two countries’ representatives should accelerate their work on those projects agreed by the two countries.Kamilov said that Tashkent conference was held with coordination of Afghanistan government and his country was ready to provide any kind of cooperation for the Afghan-led peace process.Praising Uzbekistan for its positive role and coordination in various sector including maintaining peace in Afghanistan, President Ghani said Afghanistan government and people were committed to ending decades of catastrophes and role of Uzbekistan was crucial in this regard.The country’s President further said that they would welcome any practical step taken with close coordination of Afghanistan government and people. He instructed that joint delegation of the two countries should prepare Afghanistan-Uzbekistan long-term cooperation document.According to another report, Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah in a meeting yesterday with Abdulaziz Kamilov, Uzbek minister of foreign affairs, welcomed increasing and improvement of trade relations between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.The country’s chief executive called Uzbekistan as historic friend and ally of Afghanistan, hoping that both countries by making use of current opportunities should cooperate and make effort towards maintaining peace and stability and improvement of situation in the region.Informing of increasing and expanding of trade between the two countries, Kamilov assured of his country’s continued and further cooperation with Afghanistan. He considered peace and stability in Afghanistan as beneficial for both countries and the region. Kamilov also informed of regional economic cooperation summit attended also by India in Samarkand, asking Afghanistan for participation in the summit.In the meeting, both sides also discussed Afghanistan peace talks and regional efforts in this regard as well as big infrastructural projects.The country’s chief executive by praising regional and neighboring countries for their efforts in peace process stressed on the Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process.The Kabul Times